Counter Culture.

La Calle Doce Knows Good Seafood.

Ambiance: 4 out of 4 cocktails.Food: 3 out of 4 cocktails.Service: 4 out of 4 cocktails.

It started with the simple goal of bringing the finest Latin-inspired seafood to Dallas, all while using only the freshest ingredients. Three decades later and that dream has since expanded into the form of two La Calle Doce locations, countless awards and a devoted foodie following.

With freshly made tortillas, warm and crunchy chips served with an assortment of salsas, a massive list of delicious seafood dishes, and an amazing happy hour that runs from 3 to 7p.m., and it's easy to see why people love this place.

The original location out in Oak Cliff sits inside a renovated home that offers patrons a warm, inviting feeling. The Lakewood location has more of a modern ambiance catering to the local business-centered folks working near Skillman Road. The menu offers plenty of traditional Hispanic-fusion seafood fare, served either fried or grilled, with homemade soups and Tex- Mex offerings.

Also worth noting: The amazing cocteles (seafood cocktails), which stand as a true testament to a seafood restaurants' skill level. And La Calle Doce has set the bar pretty damn high with their delicious shrimp cocktail. The shrimp cocktail is a culinary mainstay in many cultures, and La Calle Doce has got their recipe down to a science. The cocktail sauce is simultaneously spicy and sweet: It comes with a hint of lime juice that perfectly compliments the fresh gulf coast shrimp, and is topped with smooth avocado, fresh cilantro and finely chopped onions. It'll make you long for sand under your feet and the tempting crystal blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico in your field of site.

Meanwhile, their Caldo Xochitl — a Oaxaca-style chicken soup– is light and fresh and served piping hot to customers. The clear and flavorful broth surrounds freshly chopped onions, tomatoes and cilantro and is topped with large chunks of pulled chicken. It's surprisingly great for hangovers, too, which you might get if you indulge in their sinful happy hour deal on margaritas, which are both strong and affordable at $4 a pop.

Really, though, head to this place at happy hour and pretty much anyone can dine like a seafaring king for under $20. Seriously: You can get bottomless chips, a frozen margarita, a bowl of chicken soup and a plate of shrimp cocktail for only 19 bucks.